La Sagrada Familia is a Herculean cathedral, construction for which began in 1883. It offers a sacred sanctuary. The sheer size of the building is awe inspiring, with its towers reaching towards heaven. Those that witness this behemoth seem to feel the very touch of god. The soothing carvings of various religious figures lend a spiritual protection to those who seek it. Inside the colossal structure lies a vaulted ceiling that seems to go on forever, along with a strange sharp architecture that juts out from the walls which, although frightening gives off a strong, protective feeling. The stained glass windows allow a calming light to wash over the Cathedral’s visitors. But you may be surprised to hear that La Sagrada isn’t yet finished, and won’t be until at least 2026. Gaudi never lived to see the end of his masterpiece, the cathedral although started over a century ago is still under construction to this day. The original plans entail several more towers reaching to the heavens, a magnificent sight that will radiate a sense of peace throughout the city.
The Ki’i, or image of the gods, that the Hawaiians built took the form of their many gods and gave the natives piece of mind. The intimidating faces of the various idols placed around each village struck fear into the hearts of those whose minds were set on conquest. The reverence given to these wooden protectors is so much that they were built on poles, high above the heads of even the greatest Hawaiian Ali’i (Chieftain), symbolizes just how important they found this protection. In Hawaiian culture their Ali’i are seen as mortal gods and are not even to be looked at, yet they still bow to the protection they need to endure. (Cox)
The wall itself is made of super reflective stone, allowing visitors to see their reflection while looking at the names of the fallen. The reflections bring to life the otherwise inanimate names engraved onto the wall. Seeing yourself in the wall reminds you that the souls remembered in the memorial were just like yourself and the reflection standing just to your side. It also tells you just what these men and women died for, the future of their very country. This may be startling to some but lends some emotional sanctuary in a sea of grief to some. Those hit hardest by the conflict, the veterans themselves, can find the soothing wall cool to the touch, a welcome contrast to the fiery memories of war. With thousands of names engraved on the wall, the veterans can see and remember 